Device for gathering and compacting paper towels

ABSTRACT

A device for gathering and compacting compactible goods such as paper towels, includes a housing provided with an opening for supplying the goods, with a holder for acccomodating the compactible goods and a compacting element that is pivotable about an arbor and which extends above the holder. The goods between the holder bottom and the compacting element are compactible by means of the compacting element. A drive extends from the compacting element which, to pivot the compacting element, and meshes with a denticulated element that curves about the arbor, serving as a center of curvature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for gathering and compactingcompactible goods such as paper towels, comprising a housing having aopening provided for supplying the goods, with a holder for holding thecompactible goods and with a compacting element extending above theholder and pivoting about an arbor, by means of which the goods can becompacted between the holder bottom and the compacting element.

A corresponding device can be found in DE 31 22 355 A1. In order togather and compact paper towels, a stack-like container provided with anopening is provided in which a base can be shifted against the action ofan accumulator. A compacting device is provided in the area of the feedopening, said compacting device consisting of a valve which is fastenedto a swivel axis and which can be turned together with it from anapproximately vertical starting position into a horizontal operatingposition. This makes it possible to compress paper towels. Thedisadvantage of this corresponding device is that a manual operationtakes place, in addition to which it is found that this often occurswith hands that are still wet, so that hygienic concerns arise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to further develop a device ofthe aforementioned type in such a way that a problem-free compacting ofcompactible goods, in particular paper towels, is possible usingconstructively simple measures, without the basic need for a manualoperation. A high degree of reliability should be given and it should bepossible to generate compressive forces to the required extent.

According to the invention, the problem is essentially solved therebythat a drive with a gearing exits the compacting element which, to pivotthe compacting element, meshes with a denticulated element that curvesabout the arbor serving as a centre of curvature.

Contrary to the previously known prior art, a plate-like compactingelement, such as a plate piston, is used which itself comprises thoseelements which are required for the pivoting, so that, even with a lightconstruction of the compacting element, the necessary mass is provideddue to the integrated drive and, optionally, further control elements,such as perhaps a transformer, in order to be able to compact thecompactible goods such as paper towels to the required extent. In thiscase, it is provided that the drive, such as an electric motor, and thegearing proceed from a surface of the compacting element that extends onthe end with the opening.

The gearing comprises at least two gear wheels, one of which meshes withthe denticulated element, such as a curved rack.

In order to be able to purposely deliver the goods to be compacted intothe housing and thus in direction of the holder, it is furthermoreprovided that a deflector bar supplying the goods to be compacted to anarea in the housing extends within the opening, said area extendingopposite the arbor. The latter extends in a first peripheral area of thecompacting element, a cover element which covers the compacting elementon the open end proceeding from the peripheral area of the compactingelement that is remote from the arbor, said cover element extending atleast to the deflector bar, independent of the position of thecompacting element.

The cover element itself is, in particular, a curved lamellar elementsuch as a sheet metal element which is connected with the peripheralarea of the sealing element that is remote from the arbor and curved insuch a way that the cover element extends along the deflector bar to thearbor when the compacting element is in a horizontal position or extendsessentially horizontally and extends in a guide on the arbor end, saidguide extending along the inner surface of the housing on the arbor end,namely between the inner surface and the arbor.

The peripheral area of the compacting element remote from the arbor andthe guide for the cover element itself extend parallel to one anotherand parallel to the arbor.

The holder to hold the goods to be compacted should be a paper bag orlined with a paper bag, so that the goods to be compacted together withthe paper bag can be removed from the device and disposed of as a unit.

The compacting element is preferably trapezoidal in cross section, itsside surfaces exhibiting a curved shape. The shorter base surfacethereby extends on the holder end.

The cover element extends in such a way that, when the compactingelement is horizontal or extends essentially horizontally, the coverends directly in the area of the arbor. Furthermore, the deflector barshould be adapted in its geometry to the shape of the cover on the coverend, so that it is assured that goods to be compacted cannot reachbetween the cover and deflector bar.

Furthermore, a sensor, e.g. a light barrier, can be provided to monitorthe fill level of the goods supplied to the holder, so that the goodsare automatically compacted after reaching a preset fill level in theholder.

Further details, advantages and features of the invention can be foundnot only in the claims, the features to be derived therefrom—alone or incombination—but also in the following description of the preferredembodiments to be found in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 an area on the end with the opening of a device for compactinggoods,

FIG. 2 a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 with various positionsof a compacting element and

FIG. 3 a block diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device 10 or compacting compactible goods, e.g. in particular papertowels, is shown in a sectional view and in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thedevice 10 comprises a housing 12 with an opening 14 via which the goodscan be supplied. On the bottom end, the housing 12 has a holder, such asa compacting basket 16, which is lined with a bag, e.g. a paper bag,consisting in particular of a recyclable material, in order to be ableto remove and dispose of goods compacted by means of the device 10together with the bag as a unit.

To compact the goods supplied to the housing 12, a compacting element18, to be designated as a plate piston, is provided which is pivotableabout an arbor 22 in the area of an edge 20, said arbor in turnextending along an inner wall surface 24 of the housing 12. As can beseen in the sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 2, the plate piston 18 has atrapezoidal geometry in cross section, the side surfaces 26, 28 of whichextend in a curved manner, and the shorter bottom surface 30 of whichextends at the holder end. At the top, i.e. in the area 32 on the endwith the opening, a drive in the form of an electromotor 34 with agearing 36 proceeding therefrom is provided in the plate piston 18, saidgear 36 should comprise at least two gear wheels 38, 40, of which thegear wheel 40 not directly connected with the output drive shaft for itspart meshes with a curved rack 42 which is curved about the arbor 22serving as a centre of curvature. This results in the advantage that,when the electromotor 34 is actuated and the gear wheel 40 meshes withthe rack 42, the plate piston 32 is pivoted, so that goods present inthe compacting basket 16 can be compacted. Thus, the rack 42 follows acircular segment with the arbor 22 as centre point.

The rack 42 itself can thereby be situated on an inner surface of thehousing 12 extending at a right angle to the wall 24.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a deflector bar 44 proceeds from theinside wall 24 of the housing 12, said deflector bar 44 ensuring thatthe goods reaching the housing 12 and thus the compacting basket 16 viathe opening 14 are supplied to the area which is remote from the arbor.Thus, it is assured that goods cannot reach between the plate piston 18and the inside wall 24 when the plate piston 18 is raised, i.e.accessible holder 16. In addition, a cover 46 is provided which extendsfrom the peripheral area 48 of the piston 18 remote from the arbor tothe underside of the deflector bar 44 and then along the inside wall 24of the housing 12. Accordingly, when the plate piston 18 is horizontalor essentially horizontal, the cover element 46 has the geometry of asemi-ellipse or almost semi-ellipse in cross section. The cover element46 thereby extends in the area of the inner wall 24 along a guide.

Furthermore, the deflector bar 44 has a geometry adapted to the shape ofthe cover element 46 on the end with the cover element, so that no gapcan form between the deflector bar 44 and the cover element 46, intowhich any goods that might have come to adhere to the cover element 46can reach when the plate piston 18 and thus the cover element 46 areadjusted.

Various positons of the plate piston 18 can be seen in FIG. 2. It can beseen that, when the gear wheel 40 meshes with the rack 42, he desiredpivoting of the plate piston 18 takes place without the need for anyadditional features. Furthermore, due to the fact that the drive 34,including control and optionally required transformer 34′, areintegrated in the late piston 18, the advantage results that asufficient weigh is given in order to be able to compact the goods, e.g.paper towels, to the required extent, even with a relatively lightconstruction of the plate piston 18.

A block diagram for the device according to the invention for compactinggoods, in particular paper towels, in order to be able to compact themto a small volume, can be seen in FIG. 3.

The control mechanism is microprocessor-controlled, whereby a sensor 52can also be provided to monitor the fill level of the holder 16, as aresult of which the plate piston 18 is turned from its raised position(position 48 in FIG. 2) found in the area of the deflector bar 14 intoits horizontal position (position 50 in FIG. 2) by meshing of the gearwheel 40 with the curved rack 42. Furthermore, a safety switch 54 isprovided. Keys 56, 58 can also be provided to start it or turn it off.

What is claimed is:
 1. Device for gathering and compacting compactible goods, comprising: a housing having an upper end and a bottom end, said upper end comprising an opening for receiving said compactible goods; a holder for accommodating said compactible goods and disposed at said bottom end; a compacting element pivotably mounted about an arbor and extending above said holder; a drive mechanism mounted on or in said compacting element; a denticulated element mounted onto the housing and having a curvature having a center superimposed on said arbor; said drive mechanism meshes with said denticulated element to pivot said compacting element to compact said compactible goods between said bottom end and said compacting element.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the compacting element (18) is a plate-like piston, a drive (34), and a gearing (36) proceeding from an area (32) on said bottom end of said housing.
 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises at least two gear wheels (38,40), one of which meshes with the denticulated element (42).
 4. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a deflector bar (44) attached to a inner wall (24) of the housing (12) and extending therefrom within the opening for guiding the goods in the housing to an area.
 5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the arbor (22) extends in a first peripheral area (20) of the compacting element (18).
 6. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover element (46) covering the compacting element on said bottom end of the housing and proceeds from a peripheral area (48) of the compacting element (18) that is remote from the arbor, said cover element (46) extending at least to a deflector bar (44) independent of a position of the compacting element.
 7. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover element (46) that is a curved formed element and attached to a peripheral area (48) of the compacting element {18) remote from the arbor and curved in such a way that it extends along a deflector bar (44) to the arbor (22) independent of a position of the compacting element, and extends in a guide on the arbor end which extends along an inner surface (24) of the housing (12) on the arbor end.
 8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral area (48) of the compacting element (18) remote from the arbor and a guide for a cover element extends parallel to one another and parallel to the arbor (22).
 9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the holder (16) accommodating the goods to be compacted is lined with a bag.
 10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the compacting element (18) is trapezoidal in cross section and has curved side surfaces (26, 28).
 11. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover element (46) attached to a peripheral area of the compacting element wherein the cover element ends directly in an area of the arbor (22) when the compacting element (18) is horizontal or essentially horizontal relative to said bottom end of said housing.
 12. Device according to claim 11, further comprising a deflector bar (44) adapted and configured to the shape of the cover element (46) at one end thereof.
 13. Device according to claim 1, further comprising electrical control mechanisms required for the device (10), including a transformer, are located in or on the compacting element (18).
 14. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor is provided for monitoring the fill level of the goods supplied to the holder (16). 